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From menarche to menopause: estrogenic influences on stroke-related depression in women
No full text•Estrogen fluctuations influence post-stroke depression (PSD) risk in women.•Exogenous hormones and comorbidities uniquely modify PSD vulnerability.•Behavioral and psychosocial factors compound biological predisposition to PSD.•Sex-specific mechanisms are key for targeted PSD treatment.
Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common and debilitating complication that disproportionately affects women, yet the underlying risk factors remain incompletely understood. Hormonal fluctuations across a woman’s lifespan, including those naturally occurring during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as exposures to exogenous hormones, such as oral contraceptives, assisted reproductive technologies, and hormonal replacement therapies, profoundly influence neurobiological pathways, potentially modulating both stroke risk and subsequent depressive disorders. Female-specific or female-predominant patient factors, including polycystic ovary syndrome, migraine, autoimmune disease, and breast cancer may exacerbate susceptibility to depression after stroke. Behavioral factors, such as smoking, substance use, and stress, further interact with biological predispositions to impact PSD outcomes. Our review presents current evidence on the intersection of hormonal fluctuations, patient factors, and behavioral influences in shaping the stroke risk and manifestation of PSD in women. Addressing the intersecting influences on PSD offers a promising pathway to improve post-stroke mental health outcomes and enhance quality of life for women
SemGuard: Toward Intrinsic Trusted Access Framework for Semantic Communication via Backdoor Regularization
No full textSemantic Communication (SC) codecs contain valuable intellectual property, but current security is ineffective against model piracy. To address this, we propose SemGuard, an intrinsic trusted access framework that embeds a backdoor within the SC codec. Legitimate users use a credential generator to embed sample-specific credentials into inputs, activating the backdoor for seamless transmission. Conversely, unauthorized inputs lacking this credential are deliberately processed into anomalous outputs. This backdoor is implanted via a regularized joint training process. Even if the model is extracted, it remains functionless without credentials, effectively deterring illegitimate access without sacrificing efficiency, and preserving defensive efficacy in adversarial settings.</p
Pressure and temperature time-series data from the CORK in Hole 949C in the Barbados accretionary prism acquired from 1994-1998
No full textThese pressure and temperature time-series were acquired from an original CORK installed during ODP Leg 156 in July 1994 in Hole 949C, which penetrates the decollement in the Barbados accretionary prism about 2 km landward from the trench axis (Becker et al., 1997). The CORK instrumentation system comprised an RBR Ltd data logger, Paroscientific model 8B7000-110 borehole and seafloor pressure gauges, and a 10-thermistor cable down to 410 meters below seafloor. The cable was 715 m long and had to be folded twice to fit the actual hole depth; as a result, data from five of the thermistors were bad and are not included in that file. Temperatures were obtained from raw binary data by applying a logger count-to-resistance calibration and individual thermistor resistance-to-temperature calibrations. All sensor data were logged at nominal 1-hour intervals, and the data files are in tab-delimited ASCII format. Column formatting differs between the pressure data files and temperature data file; please see header information in each file for specific descriptions of the column formatting and checks of logger times versus UTC. In the temperature file, temperatures are in degrees C. Data were accessed during dives of the manned research submersible Nautile in December 1995 and January 1998. Support for acquisition of the instrumentation was provided by the Geological Survey of Canada and NSF award OCE-9301995 (Instrumented Borehole Seals for FY94-95 ODP Drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, K. Becker, PI)
Longitudinal associations between depression, substance use, and immune activation and inflammation: A secondary analysis of men who have sex with men living with HIV in Brazil (HPTN 063)
No full text•Depressive symptoms predicted changes in inflammation and immune activation over one year among men with HIV in Brazil.•Depression and alcohol use showed high within-person variability across time; stimulant use was mostly stable.•Studies should investigate if interventions targeting depression can improve immune function among men with HIV in Brazil.
Limited research has examined the longitudinal interplay of depression, substance use, and immune dysregulation among men with HIV.
We analyzed longitudinal data from 100 men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV enrolled in the HPTN 063 cohort (2011–2013) in Brazil. Depressive symptom severity, alcohol use severity, and recent illicit stimulant use were assessed quarterly over 12 months. Soluble markers of immune activation (sCD14) and inflammation (IL-6) were measured at baseline and at a 12-month visit.
Depressive symptom severity and alcohol use severity showed substantial within-person variability across time, whereas stimulant use remained relatively stable. These psychosocial factors were weakly intercorrelated. Controlling for baseline IL-6, the odds of having detectable IL-6 at 12 months increased by 2 % for each point increase in the proportion of visits with elevated depression, 7 % for each point increase in mean depressive severity across visits, 5 % for each point increase in depressive severity at nine months, and 6 % for each point increase in depressive severity at 12 months. Effects persisted after controlling for baseline HIV viral load. Controlling for baseline sCD14, estimated 12-month sCD14 increased 8 ng/mL for each point increase in 12-month depressive severity and 20 ng/mL for each point increase in 12-month alcohol use severity. The alcohol–sCD14 association was attenuated when adjusting for HIV viral load. Neither baseline IL-6 nor sCD14 strongly predicted future depressive symptoms or substance use.
Depressive symptoms predicted future inflammation and current immune activation. Research should examine if interventions to treat depression can improve immune functioning
Sperm DNA fragmentation and its influence on mammalian reproduction
No full textSperm DNA fragmentation is a recognized factor in male infertility with direct implications for embryo development, implantation and pregnancy outcomes. Historically, standard semen analysis has not included assessments of DNA integrity, creating a clear need for advanced diagnostic tools. DNA damage can arise through pathways such as apoptosis, oxidative stress and exposure to environmental toxins, all of which compromise reproductive potential. Several methodologies exist for measuring sperm DNA fragmentation, including the sperm chromatin structure assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL), the Comet assay and sperm chromatin dispersion, each of which has unique advantages and limitations. Novel automated imaging platforms incorporating machine learning algorithms have emerged, enabling high-throughput, single-sperm assessment and reducing subjectivity associated with manual scoring. Species differences further complicate the understanding of DNA stability and sperm quality, especially in livestock and models of artificial insemination; nonetheless, physiological similarities between humans and species close to humans provide useful translational insights. Emerging sperm selection technologies, including microfluidics, hyaluronic acid affinity systems and magnetic-activated cell sorting, show promise in reducing DNA fragmentation, improving reproductive outcomes and decreasing pregnancy loss. As the field progresses toward increasingly personalized fertility treatments, measures of DNA integrity will remain central to optimizing assisted reproduction success rates across species
Crumpled Graphene Oxide Loaded with Anticancer Agents Synthesized by a Single-Step Aerosol Method for Drug Delivery
No full textNew methodologies for the treatment of cancer continue to be developed, with an emphasis on improved specificity and targeted delivery to tumor cells. An innovative crumpled graphene oxide (CGO)-based drug delivery system (DDS) was fabricated via a single-step aerosol methodology to achieve reduced material toxicity and to enhance the drug-loading capacity for an anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Specifically, the CGO-based systems feature reduced particle sizes and preserved surface modifiability compared with the current graphene oxide (GO)-based systems. In addition, the CGO-based drug delivery system can be loaded with the drug DOX by either surface attachment or one-step aerosol-based encapsulation. The particle size, drug-loading capacity, drug release profile, and in vivo toxicity of the synthesized DDS nanoparticles were evaluated in this study. The synthesis for the CGO DDS was a one-step aerosolized approach in a furnace aerosol reactor (FuAR). The synthesized structures were loaded with the drug to form composites, with DOX either loaded on the surface or encapsulated inside the structure. The one-step aerosol synthesis process produced CGO particles with a significantly smaller particle size (350.55 +/- 91.43 nm) than GO (635.32 +/- 80.41 nm), with a similar loading capacity for DOX (0.52 +/- 0.01 mg/mg) compared to sheet GO (0.57 +/- 0.07 mg/mg). At a pH of 7.4, the CGO loaded with DOX composite exhibited a similar asymptotic percentage of release (11.23%) over a 24 h period compared to the GO composite (13.12%). In vivo toxicity studies on mice indicated that CGO demonstrated less toxicity (60 mg/kg) in mice than sheet GO (7.5 mg/kg) in the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Thus, the crumpled graphene oxide particles, along with those pretreated polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface modifications, can offer solutions for developing a suitable drug delivery system for cancer treatment.</p
Vasoactive regimens and outcomes in patients with septic shock: an observational cohort study
No full textThyme, Oregano, and Cinnamon Essential Oils: Investigating Their Molecular Mechanism of Action for the Treatment of Bacteria-Induced Cystitis
No full textPathogen infections, exacerbated by emerging drug resistance, remain among the most challenging health issues, for which multitargeting approaches may offer effective solutions. In this context, medicinal plants, including essential oils, provide complex mixtures of diverse molecules that can exert therapeutic effects, either alone or synergistically with established antibiotics. Although several databases comprehensively collect information on the antibacterial properties of medicinal plants, including chemical composition, bioactivity data, and ethnobotanical uses, there is a notable lack of tools to hypothesize mechanisms of action. To address this gap, we developed a computational pipeline that integrates chemoinformatics and bioinformatics, specifically designed for scenarios in which only the chemical composition of a complex mixture of natural phytocompounds is available. Beginning with an ultralarge, structure-based screening across thousands of proteins and their potential binding sites of six bacterial species, we used the predicted targets as input for bioinformatics tools commonly employed in the omics fields, such as pathway enrichment analysis and network analysis. Using this pipeline, we modeled how the essential oils of thyme, oregano, and cinnamon exert antibacterial activity against six bacterial pathogens. Applied here in the context of urinary tract infection, but extendable to other therapeutic scenarios, this pipeline provides a novel protocol for mode of action investigation and experimental prioritization, to be applied in drug discovery involving natural substances
Beyond Exponential Decay: How Biphasic and Delayed Decay Dynamics Shape Marine eDNA Dispersal
No full textABSTRACT Accurate interpretation of marine environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring surveys depends on understanding how eDNA concentrations change once released by organisms into the surrounding environment. Despite growing evidence for multiple eDNA decay patterns, such as biphasic and delayed decay, many studies assume by default a single‐phase exponential decay model. Here, we took a multiprong approach with a literature review of eDNA decay experiments, an experimental study of empirical decay patterns, and high‐resolution Lagrangian particle tracking to quantify how different decay patterns drive eDNA dispersal at two contrasted locations in the Bay of Biscay, Northeast Atlantic. Biphasic or delayed eDNA dynamic patterns were found in over half of the reviewed empirical studies and at 13°C and 20°C in our experiment, with the first 12 h being key to detecting biphasic or delayed decay dynamics. Compared to single‐phase exponential decay, the alternative decay dynamics increased eDNA concentrations by about a factor of two to four after 24 h, depending on the decay pattern. Assuming an exponential decay may lead to under‐ or overestimation of the amount of eDNA released when the decay dynamics are actually biphasic or delayed, depending on local hydrodynamics. In conclusion, considering the appropriate eDNA decay type is critical for marine eDNA transport models and eDNA monitoring data interpretation
Abstract WP335: Targeted Social Media Stroke Education Messaging: Testing Engagement to Build a Model for Behavioral Change
No full textBackground: Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women experience the highest risk of stroke in the United States, necessitating targeted awareness strategies. Despite increased awareness of stroke symptoms, delayed presentation to the hospital remains a significant barrier to timely treatment in this population. Public education, particularly symptom recognition and rapid activation of emergency medical services (EMS) is essential to reducing prehospital delays and improving stroke care. Especially amongst the high-risk population. We proposed that targeted, interactive social media campaigns could increase engagement and reduce time to hospital presentations in high-risk populations.
Methods: The Florida Stroke Registry (FSR), a state-mandated quality improvement program, supports statewide stroke care by analyzing acute stroke and administrative data. FSR launched a tailored stroke recognition campaign for NHB women. Messaging was informed by multiethnic, multidisciplinary stakeholder focus groups, featured two BEFAST scenarios emphasizing 911 activation. Formats included 30-second animations still images, and a landing page. Distribution leveraged Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger) and Google Ads (YouTube, Gmail, Search), targeting demographics, interests, and search keywords. The 3-month campaign was launched in one county with a high NHB population, identified via census tract data. Engagement metrics, impressions (message displays) and reach (unique users interacting), were collected daily and aggregated for the first two months. Social media metrics are collected daily and are reported in aggregate representing the first two months of the social media campaign.
Results: From June-July 2025, Meta delivered 1.89M impressions, reaching 133K users: 1.20M video and 691K static image impressions. Videos generated 1.05M plays, including 132K 3-second views, 4,099 completions (95% watch rate), 23,864 views at 25%, 11,280 at 50%, and 6,294 at 75%. The campaign yielded 1,165 link clicks, with an average frequency of 14.19 views per (133K) user.
Conclusions: A tailored, targeted social media stroke recognition campaign achieved high engagement, exceeding exposure targets and indicating strong potential for message recall and awareness. This community-informed, precision-targeted approach shows promise for scalable education strategies that may influence health-seeking behavior and improve outcomes